digitoast

For those who don't know, Graber is the parent company of Saris/CycleOps (who makes the well known and respected Fluid2 trainer). If this is anything similar to the resistance unit used on the Fluid2, then it is a great bargain. I own many different trainers and rollers, but have been training on the Fluid2 as my primary for 4-5 years. Might pick this one up for my wife in the morning if she wants it -- it'll be much better than using a magnetic resistance trainer.

rtfirefly

chipgreen wrote:Nope, you can just buy one of these for around the same price.

The advantage, of course, is that with one of these, you don't have to have your road bike AND a full-size exercise bike cluttering up your basement.

I'm recovering from an Achilles tendon rupture last month, and I'm thinking it might be worth it to get one of these to start building up strength again. The PT already has me on an exercise bike, but that's just 20 minutes a week.

hdmatrix

cheffelipe

I have a cycleops fluid 2 trainer that I've been using for a couple of years. You might not have to use their skewer if yours is already steel, but keep it mind that it will get scuffed up being clamped down in the trainer.

You should be able to use a mountain bike, but if you have a knobby tire it will be bouncy, same goes if you try to use any road tire with traction.

Usually I install swap out the trainer tire onto the road bike at the same time I'm putting the studded tires on the winter bike and cleaning the rust off the Pugsley.

Honestly the construction doesn't look to be that good on this model and I would probably pass. You can find nearly new used trainers sometimes on Craigslist that are of higher build quality. This one looks like the department store Mongoose of the trainer world.

wolfestone

Is there risk of the axle attachments scratching the rear dropouts, or does the replaceable skewer hold them far enough out that it won't be an issue? I'd hate to gouge or scratch the finish on the frame.

cheffelipe

cheffelipe

wolfestone wrote:Is there risk of the axle attachments scratching the rear dropouts, or does the replaceable skewer hold them far enough out that it won't be an issue? I'd hate to gouge or scratch the finish on the frame.

It clamps to the skewer and there is a buffer from the frame. I've never scratched any bikes and haven't ever heard of it happening either.

zeta30

The downside of one of these compared to an exercise bike is that the trainers are very loud. We have one upstairs in our house and it is almost unbearable to be downstairs if my wife or I are using it. I've heard that the more expensive ones like the Kinetics aren't quite as loud as they use a different form of resistance.

jalexan

I just got a bike trainer from amazon 2 months ago and it has been great for staying active in the winter. Mine is magnetic - I wish this one had popped up a few months ago!

My piece of advice is to put a slick rubber tire on the rear wheel of your bike if you have knobby mountain bike tires. The sound these things make without a slick tire is just slightly lower than a jet engine.

polarbear22

MarkES wrote:So in order to use this I have to replace the skewer on my rear wheel and use their's?

When you mount the bike on the trainer, it holds across the axle. So it puts pressure on the skewer. Also, some skewer ends may not fit. So bottom line, easier to use theirs. Just unscrew skewer all the way, slip out and slip this one in. No mechanical aptitude required. (meaning, even I can do it.)

EDIT: Already answered, but I second the fact that it is easy. No tools needed.

urbanrastaman

EZRider2

In for one. Less than half a Fluid 2. My old bike has electronics on it so I can monitor speed, cadence, pace, distance, heart rate, etc. This will be perfect to set up in the basement for nasty days when I don't want to get out on the carbon bike. I'm training for my first Bike MS 150, and I can't afford to miss training rides!

hulfy

Wow! I just got this today, my first Woot, and am very happy with it. It was easy to set up (had to back off the tension knob almost all the way in order to hook up my wheel) and it works!! I did 20 minutes on it as a quick try out, a little noisy but not bad, got my heart rate up nicely. I can see using this while watching a streaming half hour sitcom or two each day while the cold weather lasts. Thanks Woot!

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